WINCHESTER CITY are hoping to extend their lead at the top of Sydenhams Wessex League Division 1 tonight, when they travel to Fareham Town.

Their 4-0 win against Portland on Saturday, and the 1-1 draw between second and third-placed Lymington & New Milton and AFC Newbury, meant they returned to top spot - and now they can further extend the gap.

Newbury are in action at Christchurch but with no other sides in action, Neil Hards's side have the chance to extend their lead at the top to four points.

Hards said: "Confidence is good at the moment. We can expect a tough game at Fareham as always, but it's important we build on Saturday's result."

Bashley boss Geoff Butler has admitted that his club are suffering from the worst injury crisis since he took over last summer.

The New Forest club's decimated first-team squad was reduced even further during the 2-0 defeat against Horsham on Saturday, when Sam White suffered an ankle injury.

Now they are preparing to take on fifth-placed Tooting and Mitcham tonight without a full substitutes' bench.

Butler said: "It's the worst I've known since I've been here. Three players have left recently, and I was already without Matt Jones, Graeme Gee, Richard Gillespie, Andy Culliford and Danny Gibbons before Sam was injured.

"I'm also without Jake Hewitt and Luke Allen, who are playing college football, but hopefully Gary Langrish will be available.

"And I've got a striker from Fleetlands called Neil Tooms, who wants to see if he can play at a higher level."